PAWS STATEMENT OF POLICIES ONCOMPANION ANIMALS

PAWS approves the keeping of companion animals only when there is full personal commitment to the welfare of the animals. The animals must be provided with shelter, exercise, care, food and water appropriate to their physiological and behavioral needs. We are opposed to all mutilations on companion animals carried out for non-therapeutic reasons (i.e. tail-docking, ear-cropping, declawing)

PAWS is an advocate of RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP and that A PET IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.

We believe that spaying or neutering of a companion animal is part and parcel of responsible pet ownership and is crucial to preventing animal homelessness and cruelty.

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP?

Before owning a pet, one should always consider if one has the capacity (timewise, financially, emotionally) to care for it responsibly for its entire lifetime, not just when it is a cute puppy. If one cannot guarantee to assume and provide all responsibilities of pet ownership for the entire life of the pet, it is more responsible not to acquire or bring home a pet into the home in the first place.

A responsible pet owner knows that to bring a pet into their home/family means that they will care for the pet for the remainder of the pet's life. Thus, PAWS' campaign that A PET IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.

A knowledgeable and responsible owner knows that he/she should provide adequate sustenance (food & water), proper shelter (in a secure comfortable environment, not exposed to the heat or rain) and medical care (updated vaccinations especially for anti rabies, gets at least an annual check up, and will bring his/her pet to a vet if sick or injured). He/she will also address their pet's physical, social, emotional and mental well-being -- under this is daily enrichment (play, socialization, training) and daily exercise, regardless of whether it is purebreed, mixed breed, native or aspin. He/she will also ensure the cleanliness of his/her home and will always clean up pet mess (poo and pee) to avoid any foul-smelling odors in the household.

A responsible pet owner would abide by the responsibilities of a pet owner under RA9482 The Anti Rabies Act and not allow their dogs to roam freely in public (this includes the outside of their gate or property). He/she would use a leash to take their dogs out for a walk or when they are out in the streets, parks, malls and other public areas.

A responsible owner would also not abandon its pet or ask an animal welfare organization to "adopt" their pet for any reason, but instead he/she will look into and exhaust prudent, compassionate measures (without rushing) to rehome their pet if absolutely necessary.

PAWS is anti-abandonment. It is irresponsible to ask an animal welfare org to "adopt" one's pet when they no longer want it (for whatever reason). It is also unreasonable to "donate" one's pet to an animal welfare org. Donations are meant to help an organization and "donating" one's pet will not help PAWS or any animal welfare org.

From an animal welfare org's standpoint, where there is:

much homelessness, neglect and cruelty;

not enough people adopting from shelters;

not enough pet owners spaying/neutering their pets;

people buying or breeding cute, status symbol dogs;

people owning breeds they cannot even afford to maintain or bring their pet for necessary vet attention;

and owners abandoning their pet when caring for it becomes inconvenient or difficult,

surrendering a pet to an animal welfare org or shelter is abandonment.

It is not responsible or compassionate to guilt-trip or tell an animal welfare org that it is better for the org to take their pet instead of them (the pet owner) leaving their pets on the streets to fend for themselves or selling their pet to dog meat traders. This is against RA8485: The Animal Welfare Act and RA9482: The Anti Rabies Act.

ON GIVING PETS AS GIFTS

Often well-meaning people may give puppies, kittens, bunnies, etc. as holiday, birthday or anniversary gifts with all the good intentions, especially if they know the intended recipient is fond of animals or they think giving a child a pet would teach him/her compassion and responsibility.

However, giving live animals or pets as gifts is never a good idea.Unlike inanimate presents, animals are living, feeling beings with physical, emotional needs.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility and the owner must be emotionally and financially ready to commit to its care for the pet's entire lifetime - not just when it is a cute, young pooch or kitty.

Although the recipient may fall in love and shower the pet with attention initially, it is not uncommon to find these 'gift pets' ending up neglected, tied or cooped up in a cage all day, not given necessary medical attention, indiscriminately given away or worse, abandoned or owners attempting to surrender them to the pound or shelter once the novelty wears off, when the pet has outgrown its cuteness, gets sick, develops unfavorable behavior or owners have grown tired or inconvenienced by the daily upkeep.

Sadly, many do not consider whether or not a pet - its size, energy level and maintenance - are suitable to the giftee's lifestyle, schedule, space and budget.One must be emotionally and financially prepared to fully assume the responsibilities that come with owning a pet. Pet care is not just about giving food, water, grooming or dressing up the pet in fancy outfits. It requires time, patience, attention, a safe ample space and money. There's daily clean up of mess, regular baths, trips to the vet for annual check up, routine vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery to prevent mating/breeding of unwanted litters, as well as vet visits/ check-up/treatment when the pet gets sick or injured. In addition, the owner also has to address its mental, emotional needs with exercise, play, proper socialization and basic training.

If one cannot care for the pet long-term, one must politely decline the offer.

If one has accepted the pet as a gift but could not keep it, then person who was given the pet AND/OR the person who gave the pet should be responsible enough to find a loving, responsible forever home for the dog through your trustworthy friends, relatives, schoolmates. The pet must be spayed or neutered by your trusted licensed vet asap before adopting it out to make sure it does not contribute to unexpected litters which will end up being given away as 'gifts' again so the cycle of pet-gifting stops. Remember, owning a pet is a lifetime commitment.

If we act responsibly towards our pets, we are already doing our share in helping PAWS prevent animal cruelty by being a good example to our friends and neighbors.

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